Advice.

[Mack0331]

I was told to feed my dum boa once a week. It's 2 years old and prob about 3' . . I know you judge food size by width not length though. Yesterday was a week so I got a small rat. He doesn't even care about it didn't eat it yesterday didn't eat it today. I'll try again tomorrow. It's a live rat I take it out after a few hours if it doesn't get ate and yes I keep a eye on it. This rat is a bit bigger then the last one. I'm not sure if maybe it's just too big or maybe the snakes just not hungry. I'm new to snakes so should I try it a few more days or trade the rat for a smaller one tomorrow? Thanks for any advice.

[Mack0331]

Rat size next to can

[Mack0331]

Snake next to can

[SSSSnakes]

1- If the snakes shows no interest in the rat with in 30 minutes, take it out.
2- Stop trying to feed the snake every day, it will stress him out. If he does not eat the rat, then wait again for his next regular feeding day to try.
3- The rat appears to me to be a little big, but he should be able to eat it with no problem if he is hungry.
4- Check and make sure your temps are right and the snake isn't refusing to eat because it is to cold.

[EL Ziggy]

1- If the snakes shows no interest in the rat with in 30 minutes, take it out.
2- Stop trying to feed the snake every day, it will stress him out. If he does not eat the rat, then wait again for his next regular feeding day to try.
3- The rat appears to me to be a little big, but he should be able to eat it with no problem if he is hungry.
4- Check and make sure your temps are right and the snake isn't refusing to eat because it is to cold.

^^^^Exactly

[Mack0331]

Thanks for the info.

[Cruddown]

1- If the snakes shows no interest in the rat with in 30 minutes, take it out.
2- Stop trying to feed the snake every day, it will stress him out. If he does not eat the rat, then wait again for his next regular feeding day to try.
3- The rat appears to me to be a little big, but he should be able to eat it with no problem if he is hungry.
4- Check and make sure your temps are right and the snake isn't refusing to eat because it is to cold.

Agreed.

Sometimes with dums, people recommend only feeding at night and not handling the snake for a day or two before feeding. I can't tell just by the pics, but the enclosure may be too large. Having too much room can stress some snakes out. It seems counterintuitive, but dums seem to like the security from a smaller enclosure.

[kwhitlock]

Agreed.

Sometimes with dums, people recommend only feeding at night and not handling the snake for a day or two before feeding. I can't tell just by the pics, but the enclosure may be too large. Having too much room can stress some snakes out. It seems counterintuitive, but dums seem to like the security from a smaller enclosure.

I dont believe this theory. Many people on here have opened my eyes to this idea. If a snake has enough cover and hides any sized enclosure will be fine in the wild they dont quarantine themselves to a 4 foot area. Just make sure he has enough cover and hides to move from place to place without feeling exposed.

[Cruddown]

I dont believe this theory. Many people on here have opened my eyes to this idea. If a snake has enough cover and hides any sized enclosure will be fine in the wild they dont quarantine themselves to a 4 foot area. Just make sure he has enough cover and hides to move from place to place without feeling exposed.

It's just something to rule out in case she continues to not eat. Dumeril's boas can have a reputation for being finicky eaters.

I keep mine in a relatively small enclosure, she eats a small rat (50-70 grams) every 7 days, and she doesn't show any obvious signs of stress. She switched to F/T with zero effort, so I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing. Her tub is still as long as she is (2 feet), so it's not cramped and still fits recommended size requirements.

[Mack0331]

It's a 55 gallon tank.

[dumerili]

I have to agree with kwhitlock. My dum is the same age and length as yours and I keep her in a bigger cage. I give her lots of hides and she does just fine and eats on schedule, but at the same time i'm not condoning anyother methods either. If it works for yours keep doing it.

If I was you I would watch my temp and humidity really closely. Make sure she has plenty of hides(your tank did look a little barren) and just leave her alone for a week or so and try again then. If she isn't eating as long as she isnt dropping weight she should be fine. when I first got my dum she didnt eat for the first 8 months that I got her. so no need to worry she will eat when she is ready.

[Mikoh4792]

It's just something to rule out in case she continues to not eat. Dumeril's boas can have a reputation for being finicky eaters.

I keep mine in a relatively small enclosure, she eats a small rat (50-70 grams) every 7 days, and she doesn't show any obvious signs of stress. She switched to F/T with zero effort, so I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing. Her tub is still as long as she is (2 feet), so it's not cramped and still fits recommended size requirements.

I dont believe this theory. Many people on here have opened my eyes to this idea. If a snake has enough cover and hides any sized enclosure will be fine in the wild they dont quarantine themselves to a 4 foot area. Just make sure he has enough cover and hides to move from place to place without feeling exposed.


If there is cover and security as kwhitlock mentioned, a snake getting stressed out by a big enclosure does not make sense logically. The wild is basically the enclosure for wild snakes. That is so many orders of magnitude more room than the space we give our snakes. The reason they don't get stressed and stop eating is because they have cover and security from rocks, logs, trees...etc.

[Cruddown]

It's not necessarily that they get stressed in a large enclosure, but having a smaller enclosure may be more comforting. I think Dumeril's boas wouldn't move around much in the wild if they had all their needs met (temps, food, water) in a 4 square foot area. I don't think that applies to many snakes. They move around because no place is perfect and variables change.

The small enclosure advice comes from anecdotal experience of Dumeril's boa keepers who relay their successes and failures. They probably notice that their snakes seem to do best in smaller enclosures. My dum is doing great, and I keep her in a smaller cage. This is specific to dums. I can't comment on other species.

[Mikoh4792]

It's not necessarily that they get stressed in a large enclosure, but having a smaller enclosure may be more comforting. I think Dumeril's boas wouldn't move around much in the wild if they had all their needs met (temps, food, water) in a 4 square foot area. I don't think that applies to many snakes. They move around because no place is perfect and variables change.

How do those factors relate to comfort in a smaller enclosure? Sure they might not need to move around as much in the wild since we readily provide them with their needs, but why would that make a smaller enclosure any more comforting? I don't see the connection.

[Cruddown]

How do those factors relate to comfort in a smaller enclosure? Sure they might not need to move around as much in the wild since we readily provide them with their needs, but why would that make a smaller enclosure any more comforting? I don't see the connection.

I don't know. When I was researching eating issues in dums before I got mine, a lot of people mentioned that their dums do better in smaller enclosures. I was ready to get as big an enclosure as needed, and will get her bigger cages as she grows. It's anecdotal, not scientific. I'm not trying to disprove or argue against another suggestion. People share their perspectives and experience with what works. I followed this advice for my snake and I'm reluctant to change anything if she seems to be doing well.

[Mack0331]

The rat was just a little big I went and traded it for a large mouse and it got snapped up in like 2 seconds.

[Cruddown]

Good to hear. Mine wouldn't touch mice when I tried, but she loves rats.

[Mack0331]

Yeah I got a fuzzy rat last time they didn't have any so I got a small rat and I guess it was just a little big. Now I know and as GI joe says knowing is half the battle lol.